Sure, First Lady Michelle Obama's wardrobe is generating a lot of buzz -- what with the upcoming Vogue cover and all -- but those of us who keep tabs on men's style have been keeping a close eye on the president himself. I dutifully reported that the newly minted No. 44 would be wearing a Hart Schaffner Marx tuxedo to the inaugural balls, and that he buys that label's suits five or 10 at a clip.

President-elect Barack Obama's latest pick was unveiled today: He is expected to take the oath of office on Jan. 20 wearing a suit and topcoat from Hart Schaffner Marx. Lisa Wells, a representative of the label's parent company Hartmarx Corp., said additional details of the ensemble would be forthcoming, "but I hear [the coat] is probably going to be black cashmere."
Wells also told us the company received confirmation just Thursday night that Obama would be changing into a custom-made Hart Schaffner Marx tuxedo for the inaugural festivities that follow.
According to Wells, U.S. president No. 44 will make his first formal appearance in a black, 100% wool tuxedo with a one-button, satin notch lapel jacket and single-pleat trousers with a grosgrain accent.
An off-the-rack version of the same tuxedo can be found at Nordstrom or online at the Hart Schaffner Marx website for $895.
It's not a surprise wardrobe choice for the former Illinois senator, who often wore the brand's suits (all union-made in Des Plaines, Ill., not far from Chicago) on the campaign trail, during debates, and most memorably for his acceptance speech last month when, as we reported, he took to the stage in a navy blue cashmere/wool number.
While it's hard to measure the immediate impact of such sartorial choices, remember that President Kennedy's decision to doff his top hat at his 1960 inauguration is almost universally considered the day the hat began to die in the wardrobe of the American male.
Of course, Hartmarx isn't taking any chances; in the lower right-hand corner of its website is a blue box and the words: "Pick your power suit, President-elect Barack Obama found his at Hart Schaffner Marx."
Well played, HSM, well played.

--Adam Tschorn
adam.tschorn@latimes.com
Photo: President-elect Barack Obama is expected to wear a custom-made Hart Schaffner Marx tuxedo similar to the one pictured here, to the assorted inaugural balls on Jan. 20. Photo credit: Hartmarx Corp.

He may have run on the mantra of "change," but when it came to his victory speech wardrobe, President-elect Barack Obama elected to stay the course. He took the stage Tuesday night in Chicago's Grant Park wearing a dark, solid navy-blue Hart Schaffner Marx suit, the same label he's been wearing on the campaign trail and during the presidential debates this year (and which, as we reported last month, he orders five at a clip).

According to a company representative, the classic fit silhouette from the Gold Trumpeter collection is 97% merino wool and 3% cashmere, and was made in Des Plaines, Ill., not far from Chicago. The pants are pleated with an inch-and-a-quarter cuff and the suit retails at department stores like Nordstrom for around $1,500.

And just in case you really, really needed to know how our next commander in chief measures up, according to the folks at Hartmarx Corp. (the company that owns the Hart Schaffner Marx brand), the future leader of the free world wears a 40 long and has a 33-inch waist. (If that kind of intel doesn’t suddenly become classified information, we should be able to check in next year to see if there's an Oval Office equivalent to the "freshman 10" weight gain). Does this mean Obama will be wearing a Hart Schaffner Marx suit when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20?

"Let's just say we've been in discussions with his people," said Hartmarx Chairman and CEO Homi Patel. "I don't know if he'll end up wearing one of our suits or not but I'm pretty sure it's going to be an American-made, union-made suit."

And that sure beats a flag lapel pin every time, no?

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo: President-elect Obama, in a Hart Schaffner Marx suit, embraces daughter Malia after giving his victory speech in Chicago's Grant Park last night. Photo: Tannen Maury / EPA